A woman sits crying on the shore of Congamond Lake Sunday at the site where Southwick resident Wayne Szczpanik, 45, was killed Saturday night in a snowmobile accident. A black inflatable marker, top center, indicates the area of the accident. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Southwick resident Wayne Szczpanik, 45, was killed Saturday night in a snowmobile accident on the Congamond Lakes.
Southwick police and fire responded to the area of 141 Congamond Road just before 9 p.m. Saturday. Szczpanik and friends were snowmobiling on the lakes and traveled through the tunnel between Middle and South ponds when the accident occurred. The water in the tunnel does not freeze and snowmobilers are known to pick up speed and hyrdoplane through the tunnel.
“Apparently he hit the wall while trying to hydroplane in open water,” said Fire Chief Richard Anderson.
Southwick EMTs responded along with the rescue truck. Szczpanik’s friends tried to revive him.
“His friends came back to get him when they noticed he was missing and started CPR,” Anderson said.
Southwick EMTs continued CPR until Westfield Advanced Life Support arrived and took over resuscitation efforts until arriving at Noble Hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 9:30.
Police from Suffield, Connecticut, also assisted at the scene of the crash.
